
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) has highlighted a number of concerns with the draft National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) guidance, which the Department for Education and Department of Health want all professionals working with children to use from September.
It said that, at 581 pages, plus several supporting annexes, the guidance is "too long", while specific advice on identifying child neglect is "too simplistic" and fails to take into account wider factors such as poor housing that can impact on family life.
"Some of the behavioural indicators of neglect seem overly simplistic and leave little room for the consideration of factors outside of the parent/carer's immediate control, for example poor-quality housing, insecure employment and benefit sanctions," the ADCS's response to a consultation on the guidance states.
Advice on the links between sexual abuse and emotional or behavioural problems was also called into question by the ADCS for ignoring male victims.
"It is unclear why the guidelines refer only to girls who have been sexually abused and who are showing signs of emotional or behavioural disturbance," the responses states.
"A 2014 study by Barnardo's suggested that 33 per cent of referrals to [child sexual exploitation services] involved boys and young men."
Nice was tasked by the DfE and DH in 2014 with producing guidelines on abuse and neglect for all professionals working with children and young people across schools and early years, social care, medical centres and custodial settings.
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